Cancer-Causing 'Forever Chemicals' Found In Contact Lenses, Says Study
NDTV
Researchers tested 18 popular kinds of contact lenses and found extremely high levels of organic fluorine in each.
A new study has revealed that many soft contact lenses from the US are largely made up of toxic, cancer-causing 'forever chemicals', Guardian reported. For the study, researchers tested 18 popular kinds of contact lenses and found extremely high levels of organic fluorine, a marker of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFA) in each.
Notably, PFAS refer to a class of 14,000 chemicals that are typically used in consumer products to make them water and heat-resistant. They are also used in a number of household items, including clothes, furniture, adhesives, packaging, and wires. They are called ''forever chemicals'' because they do not naturally break down.
PFAS are also linked to a host of issues like cancer, fetal complications, liver disease, kidney disease, and autoimmune disorders.
The testing, commissioned by Mamavation and Environmental Health News public health blogs searched for traces of organic flourine in lenses by brands Acuvue, Alcon and Coopervision. Flourine was detected between 105 parts per million (ppm) to 20,700 ppm.
